Instructional designers who start with the goal of directing a learner’s actions will develop e-learning courses that have a much greater impact. The traditional model of creating learning objectives and providing facts and information that are then verified with knowledge checks, is flawed.
Instead, approach training design with a focus on identifying the specific actions necessary to reach the intended training goal. Introduce real world scenarios into the lessons and provide action activity checks that engage the learner. By creating a training course with a focus on actions instead of objectives, the audience is immersed in learning the skill, not simply identifying the correct answer.
Traditional Methods of Training Design
In the past, instructional design has focused on providing information through a variety of means and then testing that the information provided was retained. A learner who was skilled at short-term data retention could easily complete the knowledge checks and may or may not have learned the intended lesson. Further, learners who were more kinesthetic or spatial in their approach were at a disadvantage over those with a logic-based style.
